Archive - 2009

January 26th

OXFORD– The Clear Creek Amana Community School District currently has pre-school programs for 4 and 5-year-olds at all three elementary schools: North Bend Elementary in North Liberty, Clear Creek Elementary in Oxford, and Amana Elementary in Amana. In addition we also have a 2 and 3-year-old pre-school program at Amana.
All pre-school programs are intended to be scheduled as all-day, Monday-Friday programs with centers open from 6:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. each day. Students will be involved in activities and instruction throughout the day.

A good many years ago, when Brian was still in charge of this newspaper, he assigned me to the occasional interview of local personalities and business people. One of the more interesting interviews I had was with Clary Illian, who was – and still is – a potter with a shop in Ely.

As I write this the inauguration of our new president is on the television, and it’s hard to hold back tears as history unfolds.
More than a few times in this space I have– with more than a little vitriol–lamented the state of affairs of our country and world. Today, however, it’s impossible for me to have anything but hope and pride as the peaceful and ordered transition of leadership transpires.
I recollect at this time the often-quoted sentiment credited to Winston Churchill, “Democracy is a poor form of government but all the others so much worse,” or something to that effect.

NORTH LIBERTY– North Libery Youth Baseball and Softball is now taking registrations for the 2009 program. NLYBS offers a fun, learning baseball/softball experience for boys and girls at various levels from age 4 to 12. Parents can save $5.00 by registering online at www.eteamz.com/NLYBS
Registration forms are also available at the North Liberty Rec Center.
If you have questions about the registration form, call 319-248-1283. Registration deadline is March 9, 2009.
Coaches are also needed. This year’s NLYBS Field Enhancement Day and pre-season Coaches Meeting are scheduled for April 4.

NORTH LIBERTY– The Penn Elementary Third-Sixth Grade Tutoring Program is in need of volunteer tutors Tuesdays 4:30-5:45 p.m. and/or 6:00-7:15 p.m. Tutoring sessions are every Tuesday, Feb. 17-April 21 (excluding March 17). No experience is necessary (must have own transportation or be available to carpool).
An orientation meeting will be held Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2009, from 5:30-6:30 p.m. at Penn Elementary. If interested contact Andrea Pieper-Askelson before orientation through the North Liberty Family Resource Center at 688-1154 or e-mail pieper-askelson.andrea@iccsd.k12.ia.us.

SWISHER — “It’s hard to duplicate the feel of an old building,” Karen Vondracek said while sitting in the middle of the Kava House and Café in downtown Swisher.
Vondracek and co-owner (and sister in-law) Julie Popelka (along with their husbands Craig and Jim) know first-hand what an old building feels like, having taken possession of the former Holets’ General Store in November 2007. After a year of extensive renovation to the wooden building built in 1914, the foursome opened the door to their coffee house/café/ice cream parlor one year later.

NORTH LIBERTY– The trail on a sought-after $1.3 million has officially gone cold for this year, but North Liberty is still hoping for federal assistance in quelling its hot button traffic issue– congestion on Highway 965.
The city applied for an Iowa Clean Air Attainment Program (ICAAP) grant this fall to help defray costs for a seven-year, $29.6 million widening and redesign project on the north-south corridor road, but was notified earlier this month that no money was awarded the project this time around.

NORTH LIBERTY — It’s become routine: dig out the driveway and shovel off the sidewalk. But what about the fire hydrant in your yard?
For firefighters, every second counts when responding to a fire. Traffic and slick or snow-covered roads make getting to the scene difficult enough. Add trying to find a fire hydrant to provide a water supply to the pumper, and you include a potentially deadly outcome for somebody trapped inside a burning structure.